Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 30

“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 30

Rama Agrees to Take Sita in Exile

Summary

The persistence of Seetha continues to go along with Rama to forest. But Rama tried to pacify her telling that rendering service to elders staying back at home is advisable for ladies like Seetha, but in vain. Finally Rama had to yield to her prevail and accepts her to come along and asks her to give away her personal belongings to Brahmins in charity before they proceed.

Chapter [Sarga] 30 in Detail

saantvyamaanaa tu raamena maithilii janaka aatmajaa |

vana vaasa nimittaaya bhartaaram idam abraviit || 2-30-1

Seetha daughter of Janaka being pacified by Rama in the matter of living in the forest, spoke the following words to her husband.

saa tam uttama samvignaa siitaa vipula vaksasam |

pranayaac ca abhimaanaac ca pariciksepa raaghavam || 2-30-2

Distressed and highly agitated, the said Seetha reproached Rama having a broad chest, from affection and pride in the following words:-

kim tvaa amanyata vaidehah pitaa me mithilaa adhipah |

raama jaamaataram praapya striyam purusa vigraham || 2-30-3

"What my father, the king of Mithila belonging to the country of Videha, think of himself having got as so-in-law you, a woman having the form of a man?"

anritam bala loko ayam ajnaanaat yadd hi vaksyati |

tejo na asti param raame tapati iva divaa kare || 2-30-4

"It is a pity if these people of Ayodhya through ignorance tell the falsehood that excellent valor is lacking in Rama as in a blazing sun."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 30 kim hi kritvaa visannah tvam kutah vaa bhayam asti te |

yat parityaktu kaamah tvam maam ananya paraayanaam || 2-30-5

"For what reasons are you cast down or whence fear in you, for which you are willing to desert me, for whom there is no other recourse."

dyumatsena sutam viira satyavantam anuvrataam |

saavitriim iva maam viddhi tvam aatma vasha vartiniim || 2-30-6

"Oh, Brave man! Know me to be as dependent on your will as Savitri who was devoted to Satyavan the son of Dyumatsena."

na tu aham manasaa api anyam drastaa asmi tvad rite anagha |

tvayaa raaghava gaccheyam yathaa anyaa kula paamsanii || 2-30-7

"Rama, the faultless man! I will not see, even in thought, anyone except you as any other woman bringing disrepute to her family would! I shall accompany you to the forest."

svayam tu bhaaryaam kaumaariim ciram adhyusitaam satiim |

shailuusaiva maam raama parebhyo daatum icchasi || 2-30-8

“Oh, Rama! I am a young girl, lived for a long time with you, a chaste woman and your wife. How would you like an actor intend to deliver me to others by your own will?"

yasya pathyam cha raamaattha yasya chaarthe.avarudhyase |

tvam tasya bhava vashyashcha vidheyashchha sadaanagha|| 2-30-9

"Oh, Rama the sinless one! Be you always dutiful and obedient to him, whom you speak of welfare, for whose sake I am being kept back.(But it is improper to ask me to stay obedient to him)."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 30 sa maam anaadaaya vanam na tvam prasthaatum arhasi |

tapo vaa yadi vaa aranyam svargo vaa syaat saha tvayaa || 2-30-10

"It is not proper for you as such to set out to the forest without taking me. Any term of austerities or forest or even heaven, let it be to me with you only."

na ca me bhavitaa tatra kashcit pathi parishramah |

pristhatah tava gacchantyaa vihaara shayanesv api || 2-30-11

"To me, who follow you behind, there will be no tiresomeness. I shall remain in the path without any fatigue, as remaining in a place of recreation or as in a sleep.

kusha kaasha shara isiikaa ye ca kantakino drumaah |

tuula ajina sama sparshaa maarge mama saha tvayaa || 2-30-12

"While walking with you, blades of Kusha grass, shrubs by the name of Kaasa, reeds and rushes and plants with prickles which fall in the path will touch my soles like a heap of cotton or soft deerskin."

mahaa vaata samuddhuutam yan maam avakarisyati |

rajo ramana tan manye para ardhyam iva candanam || 2-30-13

"Oh, beloved! I shall reckon the dust raised by the strongest wind that will cover my body as sandal dust of highest advantage."

shaadvalesu yad aasisye vana ante vana goracaa |

kuthaa aastarana talpesu kim syaat sukhataram tatah || 2-30-14

"While dwelling in the forest, in its midst, I shall lie down on green grass. Will lying in beds with carpets is more comfortable than that?"

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Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 30 patram muulam phalam yat tvam alpam vaa yadi vaa bahu |

daasyasi svayam aahritya tan me amrita rasa upamam || 2-30-15

"Leaves, tubers and fruits either a little or abundant in quantity brought and given by you yourself will be like nectar to me."

na maatur na pitus tatra smarisyaami na veshmanah |

aartavaani upabhunjaanaa puspaani ca phalaani ca || 2-30-16

"Enjoying the flowers and fruits belonging to various seasons there, I shall neither recollect my mother nor father nor my home."

na ca tatra gatah kimcit drastum arhasi vipriyam |

mat krite na ca te shoko na bhavisyaami durbharaa || 2-30-17

"Hence, you are not justified to see anything unpleasant there. There will be no annoyance to you because of me. I will not be difficult to be maintained."

yah tvayaa saha sa svargo nirayo yah tvayaa vinaa |

iti jaanan paraam priitim gaccha raama mayaa saha || 2-30-18

"Your companionship will be a heaven to me. Without you, it will be a hell. Oh, Rama! By knowing thus my great love, obtain supreme joy with me."

atha maam evam avyagraam vanam na eva nayisyasi |

visam adya eva paasyaami maa visham dvisataam vasham || 2-30-19

"On the contrary, if you do not take me, who is not alarmed of the forest as such, I shall drink poison now itself. But on no account would I bow to the enemies."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 30 pashcaat api hi duhkhena mama na eva asti jiivitam |

ujjhitaayaah tvayaa naatha tadaa eva maranam varam || 2-30-20

"Oh, Lord! As a result of grief I will not going to live even afterwards when abandoned by you. Death is therefore better at the time of your relinquishment itself."

idam hi sahitum shokam muhuurtam api na utsahe |

kim punar dasha varsaani triini ca ekam ca duhkhitaa || 2-30-21

"I cannot bear this grief even for a moment, why again fourteen years in misery."

iti saa shoka samtaptaa vilapya karunam bahu |

cukrosha patim aayastaa bhrisham aalingya sasvaram || 2-30-22

Seetha, burnt by grief, having got exerted, lamented much piteously, embraced her husband and cried a lot with loud voice.

saa viddhaa bahubhir vaakyaih digdhaih iva gaja anganaa |

cira samniyatam baaspam mumoca agnim iva aranih || 2-30-23

Persecuted with many homilies like a female elephant pierced with poisoned arrows, she shed tears that had long been held back even as a piece of wood would emit fire (through attrition with another)

tasyaah sphatika samkaasham vaari samtaapa sambhavam |

netraabhyaam parisusraava pankajaabhyaam iva udakam || 2-30-24

Crystal-like tears oozed from her eyes because of grief, like water-drops from two lotus flowers.

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Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 30 tachchaivaamalachandhrabham mukhamaayatalochanam |

paryashushhyata baashhpena jaloddhritamivaamubujam || 2-30-25

Her face with shining brilliance of the moon and having longish eyes, withered with tears as a lotus flower pulled out from water.

taam parisvajya baahubhyaam visamjnaam iva duhkhitaam |

uvaaca vacanam raamah parivishvaasayams tadaa || 2-30-26

Then Rama embraced her, with arms, who was depressed and had fainted as it were, spoke the following words, fully reassuring her.

na devi tava duhkhena svargam api abhirocaye |

na hi me asti bhayam kimcit svayambhor iva sarvatah || 2-30-27

"Oh, queen! I do not relish even heaven while you are in grief. There is indeed no fear whatsoever to me, like the god of Brahma.'

tava sarvam abhipraayam avijnaaya shubha aanane |

vaasam na rocaye aranye shaktimaan api raksane || 2-30-28

"Oh, Seetha with the auspicious face! Even though I am able to protect you, without knowing your entire opinion, I do not like to take you to the forest."

yat sristaa asi mayaa saardham vana vaasaaya maithili |

na vihaatum mayaa shakyaa kiirtir aatmavataa yathaa || 2-30-29

"Oh, Seetha! it appears that you are created indeed for dwelling in the forest with me. Hence, you cannot be left behind by me, like the honor by a man of self-regard."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 30 dharmah tu gaja naasa uuru sadbhir aacaritah puraa |

tam ca aham anuvarte adya yathaa suuryam suvarcalaa || 2-30-30

"Oh Seetha, with thighs like the posteriors of an elephant! Earlier, righteousness (like fulfilling the father's command) was practiced by good men. Now, I shall follow that righteousness, like Suvarchala (wife of the sun) following the sun."

na khalvaham na gachchheyam vanam janakanandini |

vachanam tnnayati maam pituh satyopabrimhitam || 2-30-31

"Oh, Seetha! I cannot desist from not going to forest. That word, of my father, made strong by his truthfulness is taking me to the forest."

esa dharmah tu sushroni pitur maatuh ca vashyataa |

atah ca aajnaam vyatikramya na aham jiivitum utsahe || 2-30-32

"Oh, comely lady! Being obedient to father and mother is one's sacred duty. That is why, I do not wish to survive, in violation of that duty."

asvaadhiinam katham daivam prakaarairabhiraadhyate |

svaadhiinam samatikramya maataram pitaram gurum || 2-30-33

"Mother, father and teacher are at our own disposal. By neglecting them as such, how can we worship god, who is not at our disposal, by various modes?"

yattrayam tattrayo lokaah pavitram tatsamam bhuvi |

naanyadasti shubhaapaage tenedamabhiraadhyate || 2-30-34

"Oh, lady with enchanting glances! The triad of mother, father and teacher is the world- triad. There is none other in the world equal to it. Hence, this triad is worthy of worship."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 30 na satyam daanamaanau vaa na yajjnaashchaaptadakshinaah |

tathaa balakaraah siite yathaa sevaa piturmataa || 2-30-35

"Oh, Seetha! In which manner service to father is regarded as strengthening, in the same manner truth or sacrificial rites where presents are received by officiating priest are not strengthening."

svargo dhanam vaa dhaanyam vaa vidyaah putraah sukhaani cha |

guruvrittyanurodhena na kimchit\dapi durlabham || 2-30-36

"By compliance with the wishes of one's elders, heavenly bliss or riches, food grains or leaving, sons or amenities of life - nothing whatsoever is hard to obtain."

devagandharvagolokaan brahmalokam tathaaparaan |

praapnuvanti mahaatmaano maataapitriparaayanaah || 2-30-37

"High souled men, wholly devoted to their parents obtain the regions of gods and the Gandharvas, the seventh heaven presided the Gandharvas, the seventh heaven presided by Brahma (the creator) and Goloka (the highest heaven abiding in cows and presided over by Sri Radha and Sri Krishna the first couple).

sa maam pitaa yathaa shaasti satya dharma pathe sthitah |

tathaa vartitum icchaami sa hi dharmah sanaatanah || 2-30-38

"I desire to obey in the same manner as to how my father, abiding in truthfulness and virtue, commands me. That itself is indeed the law of morality, which is eternal."

mama sannaa matih siite tvaam netum dandakaavanam |

vasishhyaamiiti saatvam maamanuyaatum sunishchitaa || 2-30-39

"Oh, Seetha! My mind was depressed to take you to the forest of Dandaka. But you are saying that you will reside in the forest, duly determined to follow me."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 30 saa hi dishhtaa.anavadyaagii vanaaya vadirekshane |

anugacchasva maam bhiiru saha dharma carii bhava || 2-30-40

"Oh, mistress with fascinating eyes and flawless limbs! Since you were allowed to come to forest, Oh Seetha the timid lady, follow me and become my help-mate."

sarvathaa sadrisham siite mama svasya kulasya cha |

vyavasaayamanukraantaa kaante tvamatishobhanam || 2-30-41

"Oh, Seetha the beautiful! You adopted very auspicious resolve, suitable in all ways to me and to your race."

aarabhasva shubhashroni vanavaasakshamaah kriyaah |

nedaaniim tvadrite siite svargo.api mama rochate || 2-30-42

"Oh, lady with charming hip and loins! Now itself, begin with duties appropriate for living in exile. Oh, Seetha! Even a heaven is not a liking to me without your presence."

braahmanebhyah ca ratnaani bhiksukebhyah ca bhojanam |

dehi ca aashamsamaanebhyah samtvarasva ca maaciram || 2-30-43

"Give valuable gifts to Brahmanas and food to mendicants. Be very quick. Do not delay."

bhuushhanaani mahaarhaani varavastraani yaani cha |

ramaniiyaashcha ye kechitkriidaarthaashchaapuyupaskaraah || 2-30-44

shayaniiyaani yaanaani mama chaanyaani yaani cha |

dehi svabhrityavargasya braahmanaanaamanantaram || 2-30-45

"Give to the various classes of your dependents whatever costly ornaments, beautiful and fine articles of wearing apparel, gadgets used for sports, my couches, conveyances and other articles left after satisfying Brahmanas."

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Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 30 anukuulam tu saa bhartur jnaatvaa gamanam aatmanah |

ksipram pramuditaa devii daatum eva upacakrame || 2-30-46

Seetha the divine lady, elated to know her departure acceptable to her husband quickly set about, making gifts.

tatah prahristaa paripuurna maanasaa |

yashasvinii bhartur aveksya bhaasitam |

dhanaani ratnaani ca daatum anganaa |

pracakrame dharmabhritaam manasvinii || 2-30-47

Thereafter, the illustrious and pure-minded lady, becoming delighted on hearing the speech of her husband, started giving riches and valuable gifts to virtuous souls.

iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye ayodhya kaande tri.mshah sargah

Thus completes 30th chapter in the Ayodhya kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate

References

K. M. K. Murthy. (1999). Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya.

Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.

Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.

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